Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This book just wasn’t for me. It had my attention during the first few chapters and after that I lost interest. The ending did shock me, however, the immediate cliffhanger ruined it for me.
The premise sounded like a lot of fun, but the writing was so painfully young and cringey.
Ugh. Decent book, left me wondering who was the one behind everything and would say I didn’t figure it out, and the twist at the end either. Writing wasn’t amazing but entertaining and kept me wanting to read. But the ending. Ugh. So annoyed. My jaw dropped and I said “seriously!” Ugh… I wanted a real ending. Come on
Maybe reading about TikTok and social media influencers isn’t my thing but the concept of them being killed off intrigued me enough to purchase The Island. What followed as a fairly generic murder mystery/slasher plot that did little to really invest me
I understand influencers can be seen as shallow, 2 dimension people, but that doesn’t mean they needed to be in this book. Apart from their social media brand, and a few of their wealth status, I couldn’t tell you anything substantial about any character in this. I felt no joy at their misfortune, feeling like they deserved it like you often do in these kinds of stories, nor did I feel any sympathy towards them as the events of the story continued to unfold, even the main character. She has a little more depth to her, and a degree of likeability that sets her apart from the rest of the cast, but I wouldn’t say she’s going to be in my mind much as a memorable character after finishing reading.
The setting for this book was unique, both in its theme park location and the gothic aesthetic it was based on. It certainly lended itself to the creepy vibe this book was trying to aim for. My only wish is that there was more emphasis on parts of the part. We got a lot of detail on the hotel and the haunted house, but most other locations felt kinda fleeting in their descriptions and their relevance.
I will say, I didn’t guess the identity of the killer which was actually quite refreshing for an otherwise predictable story, but that wasn’t enough to make up for the rest of this. And the actual ending was left quite ambiguous but not really in a well thought out way. I’d rather things had been more final than so open ended.
Kinda glad I read this as I’m using a theme park setting for my own novel, but can’t say I’d be quick to recommend this or return to it any time soon. So much potential, sadly left unfulfilled.
I understand influencers can be seen as shallow, 2 dimension people, but that doesn’t mean they needed to be in this book. Apart from their social media brand, and a few of their wealth status, I couldn’t tell you anything substantial about any character in this. I felt no joy at their misfortune, feeling like they deserved it like you often do in these kinds of stories, nor did I feel any sympathy towards them as the events of the story continued to unfold, even the main character. She has a little more depth to her, and a degree of likeability that sets her apart from the rest of the cast, but I wouldn’t say she’s going to be in my mind much as a memorable character after finishing reading.
The setting for this book was unique, both in its theme park location and the gothic aesthetic it was based on. It certainly lended itself to the creepy vibe this book was trying to aim for. My only wish is that there was more emphasis on parts of the part. We got a lot of detail on the hotel and the haunted house, but most other locations felt kinda fleeting in their descriptions and their relevance.
I will say, I didn’t guess the identity of the killer which was actually quite refreshing for an otherwise predictable story, but that wasn’t enough to make up for the rest of this. And the actual ending was left quite ambiguous but not really in a well thought out way. I’d rather things had been more final than so open ended.
Kinda glad I read this as I’m using a theme park setting for my own novel, but can’t say I’d be quick to recommend this or return to it any time soon. So much potential, sadly left unfulfilled.
"The Island" by Natasha Preston is a quick and entertaining read, albeit with some drawbacks. While the story is engaging, it's undeniably predictable, and the real draw lies in the characters. The book keeps you interested in their fates.
However, the conclusion leaves much to be desired. The attempt to surprise readers ends up feeling like an unfinished plot twist, which can be frustrating. Despite the enticing premise of a private amusement park for social media influencers turning into a fight for survival, the execution falls short.
I'd rate it 2 stars. While "The Island" has its moments, the unresolved ending and predictability detract from what could have been a thrilling experience.
Merged review:
"The Island" by Natasha Preston is a quick and entertaining read, albeit with some drawbacks. While the story is engaging, it's undeniably predictable, and the real draw lies in the characters. The book keeps you interested in their fates.
However, the conclusion leaves much to be desired. The attempt to surprise readers ends up feeling like an unfinished plot twist, which can be frustrating. Despite the enticing premise of a private amusement park for social media influencers turning into a fight for survival, the execution falls short.
I'd rate it 2 stars. While "The Island" has its moments, the unresolved ending and predictability detract from what could have been a thrilling experience.
However, the conclusion leaves much to be desired. The attempt to surprise readers ends up feeling like an unfinished plot twist, which can be frustrating. Despite the enticing premise of a private amusement park for social media influencers turning into a fight for survival, the execution falls short.
I'd rate it 2 stars. While "The Island" has its moments, the unresolved ending and predictability detract from what could have been a thrilling experience.
Merged review:
"The Island" by Natasha Preston is a quick and entertaining read, albeit with some drawbacks. While the story is engaging, it's undeniably predictable, and the real draw lies in the characters. The book keeps you interested in their fates.
However, the conclusion leaves much to be desired. The attempt to surprise readers ends up feeling like an unfinished plot twist, which can be frustrating. Despite the enticing premise of a private amusement park for social media influencers turning into a fight for survival, the execution falls short.
I'd rate it 2 stars. While "The Island" has its moments, the unresolved ending and predictability detract from what could have been a thrilling experience.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
dark
mysterious
Okay, this book was one I was hooked from the start. What a messed up book. I had never seen who the killer was and was totally surprised by the twist that they have. I hate that it ended on a cliffhanger . What happened is everyone safe now. Ugh, I hate that, and as far as I know, she hasn't written another to let you know what happened.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No